'Mid pine woods' whisper and the hum of bees

I heard a voice that was not bee nor wood:

Here, in the city, Gold has trampled Good.

Come thou, do battle till this strife shall cease!"

I left the mill, the meadows and the trees,

And came to do the little best I could

For these, God's poor; and, oh, my God, I would

I had a thousand lives to give for these!

What can one hand do 'gainst a world of wrong?

Yet, when the voice said, "Come!" how could I stay?